dibble



No. 609,664. Patented Aug. 23, |898.

M. A. DIBBLE.

MULTIPLE GEARING FOR BICYCLES.

(Application filed Nov. 4, 1897.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

l a2 w rl af J f Je 22, y Q/ hz No. 609,664. Patented Aug. 23, |898.

M. A. DIBBLE.

MULTIPLE GEARING FDR BICYCLES.

(Application filed Nov. 4, 1897.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

im" f u wz [N VEN TOR WTNESSES I I VY f.. 5 i -fffzfliiamey Tw: nanms Perzws cc. Prima-umu.. wAsnmu'roN n c NrTED STATES PATENT I OEETCE.

MORTON A. DIBBLE, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HUGH L. SMITH, F SAME PLACE.

MULTIPLE GARING FOR BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 609,664, dated August 23, 1898. Application led November 4, 1897. Serial No. 657,392. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, MoRToN A. DIBBLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multiple Gearing for Bicycles; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others 1o skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to bicycle-gearing of the type wherein a centrally-located shaft or axle is connected by multiple gearing with a surrounding hub or sleeve, whereby the shaft or axle driven at one speed may drive the hub at a higher speed. I am aware that there are numerous instances in the prior art of arrangements of gearing of this general charzo acter; but I believe that my invention provides an arrangement superior to its predecessors in that it obviates thrust-bearing pressures and effects a perfect balancing of the intermediate gears, so as to preserve a line contact in the same and prevent friction, while at the same time said intermediate gears are provided with housings.

A form of embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification, and of which- Figure 1 represents in side elevation a portion of the driving-wheel of a bicycle with my improvements applied thereto and a portion of the frame, the central shaft or axle being shown in cross-section. Fig. 2 representis an axial sectional View of the same parts. Figs. 3 and 4 represent cross-sections taken on lines III III and IV IV of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 represents a certain internal support or frame connection in perspective.

In the drawings the letters a and a designate, respectively,vertically and horizontally extending portions of the frame of the bicycle, which meet in circular bosses a1, interiorly screw-threaded, as shown in Fig. 2, for the reception of exteriorly-screw-threaded tubular members a3 and a4. The latter project inwardly toward each other and support 5o between them a frame member of peculiar form (shown in perspective in Fig. 5) and comprising the following enumerated parts, viz: a tubular portion or sleeve a5, having a few exterior screw-threads at one end engaging interior screw-threa`ds of a reduced por- `tion a6 of the member a3 and abutting one side of an internal shoulder a7 of the latter; a ring a8, having internal screw-threads engaging external threads on the member c4, said ring having an internal shoulder a9 abutting the end of the latter; parallel alining arms d10 and w11, springing radially from the sleeve portion 0,5 and ring as, respectively, and connected by an integral web @12, semicircular in cross-section, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3; a curved iange 0,13, springing from one edge of the arm @11 and from the outer side of said web and lying in the plane of the arm; a web a, parallel with the arm 01,11 and conforming thereto and to the flange a, but spaced from the sleeve a5; a web w15, uniting the fiange L13 and said web @14 and substann tially semicircular in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 4; arms @16 and @17, correspondingA in form and arrangement with the arms d10 and @11, but projecting in the opposite direction thereto from the sleeve and ring, and a web am, joining said arms o16 and a, said web being curved in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 3. j The two arms 0.10 and a and the web @14 are formed with alining openings @19, d20, and 0021. It will be seen that the parts I have described provide a complete and rigid frame connection from side to side. A shaft or axle h extends centrally through this frame connection and carries cones b', arranged in and practically closing the outer ends of the tuh bular frame members a3 and d4, which carry ball-raceways b2 of angular cross-section and tting snugly in corners formed bythe intersection of the interior walls of said tubular members with the outer sides of internal shoulders a7 and a". Balls c are arranged between the cones and the raceways, and thus the shaft or axle is journaled in the frame.

There is affixed to the shaft ZJ, intermediate of its ends, a spur-gear d, which projects between the arms d10, 0.11, @15, and C117 of the frame connection above described and meshes with a smaller spur gear or pinion c, formed upon a shaft e', which extends centrally through IOC) the alining openings 0,19, d20, and am and is screw-threaded at its ends for the reception of cones e2. Ball-raceways e3 are fastened in the openings @19 and am, and balls f are interposed between the same and the cones e2, and thus this shaft e is journaled in the frame of the machine. Y

A spur-gear g, somewhat larger than the gear e, is affixed to the shaft e and occupies the space between the arm all and web 0,14, said gear being preferably engaged with the shaft by means of screw-threads on the latter and corresponding internal screw-threads in the hub of the gear and a lock-nut g', against which one of the cones e2 is screwed. The other cone is used for adjusting purposes and may be locked at different adjustments by means of a washer e4, bearing against its outer side, and a screw e5, entered throughsaid Washer and into the end of the shaft.

The gear g meshes with a gear 7L, formed upon a sleeve 72,', which loosely embraces the tubular member a5 of the frame connection andJh constitutes a rentrant tubular part of the hub ofthe wheel. This hub comprises side disks h2 and 77,3, centrally apertured to embrace the tubular frame members c3 and a, respectively, and carrying ball-raceways h4, confronting cones @Won said frame members, between which cones and the raceways rows of balls are interposed. Thus the hub is journaled on the frame of the machine.

It will be observed that the disks are formed with flanges 715 around their central apertures and that the cones fit within said ianges, so as to exclude dirt from the bearings. The disk 71,8 also has an inwardly-projecting interiorly-screw-threaded flange h6 to receive the screw-threaded end of the sleeve 7L', which abuts againstashoulder h7 at the bas'e of said internal screw-threads of the flange. The hub is completed by a cylindrical member 77,8, interiorly screw-threaded and shouldered for joinder of the side disks therewith and forming with the latter a drum-like shell which incloses all of the gearing, so that a compact appearance is presented and complete protection is afforded the gearing. The spokes j are fastened in any suitable manner to this The frame connection through the hub is to be particularly noted, for thereby the intermediate gears are provided a rigid support, while the frame is held in proper alinement with the wheel, and the whole construction is fortied against derangement. Moreover, the intermediate gears are perfectly balanced in their bearings, so that line contact with intermeshing gears is insured. Withal the bearings and gears are protected from dust and dirt, the intermediate gears e and g being partially housed by the curved webs cl2 and 0,15 with this end in view.

Of course the construction here shown is susceptible of modification in the mechanical details without a departure from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

In a multiple-gearing construction for bicycles, the combination of the frame having tubular inward-projecting members; an integral interior support comprising a sleeve and ring spaced apart and affixed respectively to said tubular frame members, parallel arms springing radially from the sleeve and ring, a web substantially semicircular in cross-section connecting the outer ends of said arms, a third radial arm, and a web substantially semicircular in cross-section connecting the latter with the other arms, the three arms having alining openings with ball-races in the openings of the two outer arlns; a compound gear whose common axle extends through the alining openings of said arms and carries cones confronting the races on the outer arms, the members of said compound gear being housedbysaidsemicircular websrespectively; balls between the races and cones; an axle or shaft extending centrally through the sleeve and ring of the interior support and through the tubular frame members and j ournaled in the latter; a gear fast on said axle or shaft between the sleeve and ring and meshing with one member of the said compound gear; and

a hub journaled on the tubular frame mem# bers and. having a rentrant tubular portion embracing the sleeve of the interior support and having a gear in mesh with the other member of the compound gear.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MORTON A. DIBBLE.

Witnesses:

D. R. TARBELL, N. P. BEEBE.

IOC 

